Spring-hinge



(Model.)

H. P. KOOHSMEIER.

SPRINGv HINGE. No.v 385,312. Patented June 26, 1888.

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Nrrn STATES ArtNr tric.

SPRING-HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,312, dated .l'uiie26, 1888.

Application tiled August 5, 18H7. Serial No. 246,187. (Model.)

To aZZ whom it int/,Ly concern.-

Beit known that l, HENRY l?. KocHsMnrER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpring-IIinges; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specication, and in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of myiinproved hinge. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view ofthe same.Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the spring and its cover removedfrom the hinge. Fig. 4 is a detail view ot' one of the end hooks. Fig. 5shows the tubular covering for the spring constructed in two sections,with an interior tube or sleeve. Fig. shows the tubular coveringconstructed in two sections, with an exteriortube or sleeve,

, and Fig. 7 shows the tubular covering for the Referring to the severalparts by letter, A

A indicate the leaves of the hinge, which are formed at the ends oftheir inner edges with the obliqueIy-projecting ears or lips B, whichare pivoted together upon the pint-les O, concentric to each other.

D indicates the spiral spring, which is of any desired or required sizeand strength, and E indicates a tubular cover or casing, which is madeof light metal and is open at both ends, and the spiral spring D isinclosed within this casing, the tubular casing being of sufficientlength to entirely inclose the said spring. The ends of the tubulareasing are closed by hook-caps F F, the said hook-caps being formed withthe central apertures, G, and the collars I-I on their inner sides,which extend Within the end ofthe tubular casing and within the ends ofthe coiled spring, as shown in the sectional views, Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawings, these collars ol` the hookcaps being formed with perforationsor slots I opening through them at one of their sides, as shown, inwhich the ends of the coiled spring may iit, and thus the spring iscaused to turn with the hook-caps when the latter are partly rotated, ashereinafter described; or, instead of these openings in the collars ofthe caps in which the inwardly-bent ends of the coiled spring iit, thesaid ends of the springs may be' bent out at right angles parallel tothe axis of the spring, so as to fit into holes J, drilled through thehook of the cap, as shown; or, instead of these holes, the hooks may herecessed at K, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the ends of the spring willfit in the said recesses, although I prefer to form' the hooks with thedrilled holes, as the spring is thus more effectnally covered. Thetubular casing or covering may be cast with the hookcap on either end,as shown at Lin Fig. 3 of the drawings; or the inner end of the hook-capmay be formed with an annular shoulder, M, as shown in the saidsectional view, Figf 3. These hook-caps are formed with the hooks N, thehooks being formed integral with the caps, as shown, and the inner edgesof the two leaves A A are formed with the slightly outwardly-extendingbails or bearings O O near each of their ends, on or around which theouter ends of the hooks of the caps are hooked, the spring being placedtogether in operative position by first placing the hook-caps in theends of the tubular casing, with the ends of the coiled spring fittingin the apertures or recesses of the said caps, as before described, whena central rod, I?, is run through the central apertures of the hookcapson the ends of the tubular casing, pass- I ing of course through thesaid casing and through the coiled spring, and on theextremities of thisrod are secured flat hook plates or caps R R, which iit against theouter sides of the hook-caps proper,and thus assist in holding the saidcaps in position, and also form a part of the hinge, as their hookedends ai'e hooked around the bails or bearings O O oi the two leaves, asare also the hooked ends of the hookcaps proper, which close the ends ofthe tubular cover or casing, and to which the ends of the coiled springin the said casing are secured.

It will be seen that when my improved IOO spring is secured to a door inits operative position, and the door is closed, the projecting lugs orears B B will extend over the ends of the tubular casing and the severalhookcaps, and as the hook-caps are hooked to the lugs or bearings of theleaves, and the ends of the coiled spring are secured to the said capsin either of-the several methods shown and described, it will be seenthat when the door is swung open the coiled spring will be twisted orcoiled tighter, so that after the door has been opened beyond theposition in which it stands at right angles to the wall or partition towhich it is hinged the springs with the hook-caps will be forced outfrom aline with the pintles ofthe hinge-ears, and tl1eten sion'of thespring will tend to draw the leaves to stand in a position parallel toone another, so that after the door has been opened beyond a certaindistance it will be drawn open by the springs and held open by theirtension. In the same manner,when the door is being closed and has beenswung beyond a certain point, the tension of the springs will tend toforce the door closed and to hold it in that position.

'Ihe tubular cover or casing, as above described, and illustrated inFigs. l, 2, and 3 of the drawings, is constructed in a single piece,which is the most simple form; but, if preferred, it may be constructedin two halves or sections, S S, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, withan interior tube or section or sleeve, S', as shown in the saidview/,which iits within i the said two sections at the central partthereof,

its closed position.

its ends iitting against slight annular shoulders T, formed in each ofthe sections SS, and in this construction the end hookveaps, U U, areformed with reduced necks V, which fit in notchesWin the outer endsofthe two sections S S, as shown, so that when the hooks are hinged orhooked around the bails or bearings of the leaves the said two sectionsof the tubular covering or casing will turn with the hooks, and as theends of the coiled spring contained within the said sectional casing aresecured in the inner` portions of the hookcaps, it will be seen thatthespring will be twisted as the door is swung open, and will operate, likethe spring in the hinge before described, to draw the door back openafter it has kpassed a certain point and to hold it in its openposition, and to pull the door closed when it has passed a certain pointand to hold it in The tubular casing may also be constructed, as shownin Fig. 6 of the drawings, of two main sections and an exterior sleeveor tube similar to the interior sleeve,

S', of the construction shown in Fig. 5, the ends of this exteriormiddle tube or sleeve, A', bearing against annular shoulders B' B',formed on the exterior of the two sections C' C'. The construction ofthe casing shown in Fig. 6 is otherwise similar to that shown in Fig. 5,its end caps, &c., being precisely similar. The tubular casing may,further, be constructed in three or more sections, as shown in Fig. 7ot' the drawings, the said sections being formed with the annularshoulders and the reduced sleeve ends, as shown in the said view, thisform of sectional casing being provided or formed with end notches, E',and end hook-caps similar to those shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings. the construction, operation, and advantages of myinvention will be readily understood. Ity` will be seen that my improvedcover or casing completely covers the spring in doubleactingspring-hinges, thus completely and eifectually protecting the springfrom injury by the weather or otherwise, and also adding to the neatnessof its appearance as well as to its durability. By the use of myimproved cover or casing the spring not only presents a much neaterappearance, but will also last much longer in use, as it is thoroughlyprotected from damp and moisture, &c. The tubular cover or casing maybe` constructed either in asingle piece or in two or more sections, asset forth', and the ends of the coiled spring may be connected orsecured to the end caps in any of the several methods desc1'ibed,whilethe hook-caps themselves may vary somewhat in construction withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, whatl claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is-

The combination, with thehingcleaves having the projecting pivoted endears and formed with the bails or bearings at theirinner edges, of thetubular casing, the spiral spring, the hook-caps having the recesses orperforations, and the outer hook-plates connected by the longitudinalrod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 1

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY I?. KOGHSMEIER.

W itnesses:

W. N. CRONKRITE, H. POFFENBERGER.

IOC

